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Monadnock Hiker
Deerslayer

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August 31 2017

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Posted - December 23 2018 : 6:50:02 PM

Good article on Colonial Williamsburg offering the public a chance to fire a flintlock in this months NRA magazine "Rifleman". The price is going up to $95.00 from $76.00 starting January 1st, 2019. - Seems "they" get a LOT of questions on "why did they just stand in line" and take turns shooting at each other??? - To answer that they say the answer lies with the flintlock musket. - You can't understand history without understanding the technology.
.
I was hoping to find a link for the flintlock program ... nada so far.

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Fitzhugh Williams
Mohicanland Statesman

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July 17 2005

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Posted - December 24 2018 : 09:18:15 AM

Another way to look at it is in the casualty rate. It was around 10% for most battles during the Rev War period. By the time of the Civil War it was much higher, and by WWI it exceeded anything imaginable. Apparently you could win battles by using mass of force if you disregard the casualties. During the late Middle Ages battles were a combination of archers and pikemen. The archers were replaced by the musketeers and the pikemen were mainly there to protect the musketeers from opposing cavalry. During the 30 years war the ratio of pike to musket dramatically changed and by the time the wars of the late 17th century the bayonet had made the pike obsolete, not because it was more efficient, but because every pikeman you eliminated was replaced by another musketeer. It is hard to imagine the revolution in military tactics during that period. I place the end of the Middle Ages at 1650 because that is when the pikeman and armored horseman became obsolete and the infantryman ruled the battlefield.

"Les deux pieds contre la muraille et la tete sous le robinet"

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Fitzhugh Williams
Mohicanland Statesman

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July 17 2005

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Posted - December 24 2018 : 09:22:09 AM

Also, if you ever get a chance to shoot a matchlock, do it. It is quite an education to go through all the steps it took to load and fire one. And to do this on a battlefield under fire is something else again. This would be something that a site like Jamestown or Henricus should consider.

"Les deux pieds contre la muraille et la tete sous le robinet"

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Monadnock Hiker
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August 31 2017

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Posted - December 24 2018 : 11:38:07 AM

Interesting response Fitz - thanks. - The flintlocks mentioned here are loaded by a "range safety officer" and then given to the individual/visitor to fire - several shots apparently if they want to. - While the flintlock is being loaded - the loading method is shown to the individual/visitor who's about to fire it - all done for safety of course. - The visitors are bused to a nearby range & provided with safety instructions & a long-sleeved shirt to protect against sparks. - Last year more than 2000 folks/visitors stepped up to the firing line - the first year this program was in place.
.
January issue of "American Rifleman" - an NRA monthly magazine. You probably know someone who gets this as an NRA member - page 66.

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